Austin adams



2 Sw Aw DT AM A No. 595,427. Patented Deol 14, 1897.

y wilma/ao 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. ADAMS,

LATCH.

(No Model.)

Patented Deo. 14,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN ADAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,427; dated December 14, 1897. Application filed April 20, 189'?. Serial No. 633,059. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, AUSTINADAMS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Latch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to latches for fastening and unfastening doors for refrigerators and other structures where t-ight swinging doors are required, and-has for its object to provide a latch simple in construction, inexpensive in manufacture, and efficient in practical use.J

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operation of the parts hereinafter set forth.

Figure l is a plan view of my latch. Fig. 2 is a plan, and Fig. 3 a perspective view, of my keeper or catch; and-Figs. 4 and 5 are views in detail of my unlocking device and my latchhandle, and Fig. 6 is a view in section of another latch constructed according to my invention. n

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the views.

In the drawings, B is an arched laterallyprojecting horizontal bracket which supports the latch A. This latch is secured on the inner end of a shaft B', which is journaled in `a bearing in the outer end of said bracket B.

Onthe outer end of said shaft B is secured a preferably weighted handle A, which is adapted to rotate the shaft and thereby operate thelatch.

C represents the keeper, which is preferably secured to the door-jamb. This keeper consists of a tubular engaging portion the longitudinal axis of which extends at right angles to the plane or face of the support thereof,

provided on its outer engaging end with an inclined spiral edge C', extending upwardly and rearwardly. Oommencing at the point C4 this edge C' forms the rear edge of a spiral 'slot C3, whose anterior or front edge C4 is formed by the part C2 of the outer end of the tubular keeper. This spiral slot O3, as clearly shown in the drawings, extends downwardly and rearwardly, and the anterior and posterior edges of which form bearing surfaces or edges which are engaged by the latch in securing andv releasing the door. Extending through the axial center of said tubular keeper to the opposite side of the door is a rotatory rod or shaft D2, on the outer end of which is an operating finger or projection D'.

On theinner end of said shaft D2 is secured o handle is turned in a direction opposite to that above described, the edge cl2 of the operating-nger D engages the opposite side of the part d3 of the pivoted latch and forces the same upwardlyin the spiral slot C3, thereby releasing lthe door from engagement with the keeper.

It is evident that when the latch engages the spiral slot C3 in fastening the door one side of the portion a3 of such latch will bear against the anterior edge C4 of the spiral slot C3, and as such latch is forced around such slot it will be guided. by the inclined edge C4 downwardly and rearwardly, thereby wedging or forcing the door to which the latch is secured into engagement with the doorframe. On the other hand, when this operation is reversed and the latch is to be released part aS of the latch rides up the posterior edge Y C of the spiral slot, which movement would be upwardly and forwardly, thereby releasing the latch from the spiral slot and at the same time forcing outwardly the latch and door to which it is fastened or secured. It will be observed, therefore, that the operation of engagin'g the latch with the keeper not only fastens the door, but also forces or crowds the door into its seat, while the operation of releasing the latch from the keeper not only releases the latch, but forces the door out of engagement with its seat in the door-frame.

It is manifest that various omissions of some particulars could be made without materially affecting the essentiall features of my invention or the operation of the remaining parts,

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and I do not therefore wish to be limited to the speciiic structural details of the organization herein set forth. Obviously the elements of the structure described may be located at an angle to the plane in which they are shown. I accordingly use the words horizontah verticah and the like in a relative sense.

In operation the pivoted or swinging latch A upon striking theinclined edge C will commence to rotate, and upon engaging the spiral slot C3 will have made almost an entire revolution. In case the door is slammed to this action will take place without touching the handle at all. By turning the handle still farther around the door will be wedged up tight.

My tubular catch or keeper may be pro.- vided with suitable supporting or attaching means, as the vertical plate C10, or, for example, the end of this keeper may be screwthreaded and directly screwed into the doorjamb, as shown in Fig. G.

The end of the shaft B may be provided with a pin B7, which works in a slot A7 of the handle A, loosely mounted on the shaft A, the said pin stopping the handle from revolving any farther than the ends of the slot. Vhen the shank or lever a3 strikes the slot or groove in the keeper, it is caused tofollow freely the incline of the groove until. t-he pin B7 strikes the end of the slot A7 in the sleeved end of the handle A. This quick motion causes the handle to fly up or revolve on the shaft and having play to go to the end of the slot, and thus overweights the parts A' a3 and causes the portion aS to positively engage. the keeper and enter the groove C3 su Iiiciently to interlock the two members of my keeper. The pin B7, being caused to strike the end of the slot A7 by the said part a3 turning in the groove, picks up the weighted handle and causes it to travel as far around the shaft as` the length of the slot will permit.

As it is evident 'that many changes in the construction and relative arrangement of parts might be resorted to without departingv from the spirit and scope of my invention I would have it understood that I do not testrict myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and de-4 scribed,y but that such changes and equivalents may be substituted therefor, and that Vhat I claim as my invention is l. -In a fastening device, the combination., with a tubular keeper, the longitudinal axis of which is substantially at right angles to the plane or face of the support thereof, pro.- vided with a spirally-inclined edge and a. spiral slot having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined anterior face, of a relatively movable latch consisting of a pivoted or swinging arm whereby a door may be crowded into its frame by means of the engagement of the pivoted latch with the anterior face of said slot.

2. In a fastening device, the combination, with a pivoted or swinging latch, of a tubular keeper the longitudinal axis of which is substantially at right angles to the plane or face of the support thereof, provided with a spiral slot the rear edge of which inclines downwardly and rearwardly, against which the latch works',whereby upon releasing the latch, the door is forced open, substantially as described.

3. In a latching device the combination,

y of a pivoted or swinging latch, of a tubular keeper, the longitudinal axis of which is substantially at right angles to the plane or face of the support thereof provided with a spiral slot extending rearwardly, said latch en gagi ing the anterior and posterior edges of such r slot, whereby in locking the latch the door is crowded into its seat, and, in releasing such latch, the door is forced open, as specified.

4. In a latching device the combination, with a rotating or swinging latch, a tubular keeper having a spiral slot engaged by said latch of a rotating shaft passing axial-ly through said tubular keeper to the Opposite side of the door, said shaft provided at its forward end with an operating finger or projection, and at its opposite end with an operating-handle, whereby the latch may be fastened or released from either side of the door, as specified.

5. A latch-keeper having attaching means and a tubular portion provided with a spi-rallyinclined edge and a spiral slot cut through the wall thereof and extending rearwardly anddownwardly, the longitudinal axis of said tubular portion extending substantially at right angles to the plane or face of the support thereof, as specified.

6. In a latch consisting of two members respectively secured to a door and jamb, the combination, with a keeper provided with a spirally-inclined edge and a spiral groove, of a pivoted or swinging latch, and a handle having a limited rota-ry movement with rcspect to saidv latch, as specified.

In testimony of the foregoing specificationr I do hereby signthe same, in the city of Washington, inthe District of Columbia, thisth day of April, A. D. 1897.

AUSTIN ADAMS.

XVitnesses:

J. E. IIOBKINS, J. ODELL FowLER, Jr.

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